How to Plan Your Work Christmas Do in Geraldine

The work Christmas do doesn't have to mean another booking at the same restaurant. Geraldine sits less than two hours from Christchurch and a short hop from Timaru — the gateway to the Southern Alps — which makes it the perfect base for a team outing that actually feels like an occasion. Best of all, you can build the whole afternoon and evening around one easy anchor: a gin tour at the distillery.

Here are our favourite ways to do it, from full-throttle to relaxed — all starting at the distillery.

Our top pick: gin tour + golf, racing & platters at Mundell's

Start with a guided distillery tour — about 45 minutes behind the scenes with the makers, finishing with a guided tasting of our gold-medal gins (and $10 off any bottle to take home). Then head across town to Mundell's Multi Hub for the evening, where the team can go head-to-head on the golf, racing and flight simulators (and let off steam in the karaoke room) while platters and drinks flow from the licensed café. Its entertainment area stays open late on Thursdays and Fridays, so it's made for a work do — competitive, social, and no one's stuck making small talk over a set menu. It's our absolute favourite: the catering is superb, and the simulators are so much fun the hard part is dragging everyone off them.

For the thrill-seekers: gin tour + Geraldine's new escape rooms

Loosen everyone up with a tour and tasting at the distillery, then put your problem-solving to the test at Geraldine Escape Rooms. They run 60-minute missions for small teams by private booking, so they're a brilliant fit for a smaller crew — or split a bigger team and see who cracks it first. It turns the Christmas do into a proper challenge, and the winners buy the first round. Book ahead, as spaces are limited.

Prefer to stay active? Mini golf or soccer golf

Fine weather and a team that likes friendly competition? Pair your tour with a round of mini golf at Café Mes Amis in Orari, just down the road, or head to the Geraldine Farmshop & Café for soccer golf — a nine-hole course you play with a football and your feet. Both are relaxed, low-cost and good fun, and an easy way to work up a thirst around the tasting.

Keep it relaxed: distillery tour + a simple meal and drinks

Prefer something easy? A distillery tour makes a great start to the evening — something to see, taste and talk about — followed by a relaxed meal and drinks at one of Geraldine's cafés or restaurants. Low-key, low-stress, and everyone goes home happy.

The practical bit

• Tours run weekdays and are booked ahead — ideal for a weekday work function. Each tour takes about 45 minutes, is wheelchair accessible, and ends with a guided tasting.
• Bigger team? Groups of more than eight are best on a booked tour rather than a drop-in tasting. Get in touch and we'll sort a time that works for your group.
• Want an evening, or a time outside our usual hours? With a bit of notice we can arrange an organised private tour to suit your group — perfect for an after-work Christmas do. Just ask and we'll make it work.
• Just a few of you? Our tastings are drop-in, Monday to Saturday during open hours — no booking needed. See the Visit Us page for hours and directions.

Send them home with something local

Round out the do with a gift everyone will actually use. Our gin gift boxes are handpacked in Geraldine and delivered New Zealand-wide, and for something with your company's name on it, we also make custom and corporate gins — a memorable thank-you for the team or clients. If you're planning ahead, our corporate gifting guide has the details and order lead times.

Ready to lock it in? Book your tour or drop us a line and we'll help you plan a Christmas do your team will still be talking about next year.